State seeking $275M from government over 5 years

Wednesday

May 28, 2014 at 2:15 PM

New Hampshire seeking $275M from feds over 5 years for services already being provided

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — New Hampshire will seek a waiver from the federal government Friday hoping to get $275 million more in matching funds over five years for health care services provided by the state, county and local governments.

Jeffrey Meyers, director of intergovernmental affairs for the Department of Health and Human Services, said the federal government is not sharing the cost of about $80 million in annual health care spending in New Hampshire. The waiver asks the federal government to pitch in.

Meyers said the waiver application faces months of negotiations with the federal government. If approved, reimbursement rates could be boosted for hospitals and mental health centers.